Seth walked me out to my car after our busy planning session. We had come up with a plan that was, from what we thought, flawless. I could see no way how Edward, Alice or Jasper could use their extra abilities to see through the lie I was about to say right to their faces.
I got into my brand new, over polished car and rolled down my window so I could talk to Seth.
"Ok, well, I'll see you tomorrow then. Shall I be round first thing again?" I asked.
A sheepish look came across his face.
"Erm, I can't. Not tomorrow. I've been getting behind on all of my rounds and Sam's still a little stressed from the red-head and your wedding isn't making it any better. He knows a breach is coming, but he just doesn't know what he should do any more. If it had been a couple of months ago, well, he'd have gone straight into the attack, but I think now we've worked on the same side long enough for him to understand that the Cullen's really don't mean any harm…I'm just, well, don't want to stress him out any more. I'm sorry."
I felt my face twist in desperation and horror.
"But Seth tomorrow is the last day. I need you. What am I going to say to Edward when he finds out your with Sam? I have to go tomorrow. To meet… well whoever is waiting for me. I can't do this on my own. I...I…sorry for pulling you into this. I shouldn't e…even be asking but…just please Seth!" I sobbed, my voice breaking twice.
I felt tears run down my cheeks and quickly went to pull them away.
"You know," I reached for the keys and turned them. "It doesn't matter, Seth, you've been such a great friend and I really appreciate what you did for me. I'm just being selfish and a…a coward. Thank you. If…if I…" I couldn't make myself say die, "don't make it, then it was really great knowing you."
I leant out of the window and kissed his cheek. "Goodbye."
I slammed the pedal down and the car hurtled forward. I looked in the wing mirror at Seth stood there, shocked. I hadn't even given him time to respond. Maybe it was better
Like that. He wouldn't have to say that awkward goodbye.
I raced onto the highway at a speed Edward would be proud of, not even caring what the speed limit was. It had dawned on me - when I was saying goodbye to Seth – that I only had one day left to live. One day left with Edward. I wouldn't waste any time. The gas peddle was flat against the floor and I knew with the slightest distraction I could crash and die, but Edward appeared in my mind again and I felt myself tapping the wheel impatiently, even though I must have been going over 200 miles per hour, the car still seem to be going too slow. Wasting the time I could spend with Edward.
I got to the Cullen's in record time and it was no surprise that Edward was waiting on the front steps with a wide dazzling smile. I yanked the door open and ran up to him without bothering to shut the door. I stared at his face, memorising all the features I seemed to have missed before now.
He barely had time to get out "I'm proud of you." Before I stretched up onto my tiptoes and kissed his lips. I put as much force into the kiss as possible, trying to lead it this time and he must have noticed the change because after a minute or so, he pulled away, confusion mixed with delight on his face.
"What…"
I cut him off again and he chuckled., sending deep vibrations through my body. He shut the door and led us into the living room and onto the loveseat. I curled myself around him and he realised what I was trying to do. With the smallest effort, he detached himself from my limbs and stared into my eyes, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"I thought you wanted to wait until after the wedding?" he said with raised eyebrows.
"Well, the wedding isn't happening soon enough…" I tried to capture his lips again, but he held me back. I sighed in annoyance. It was like he didn't want us to join as one. Hadn't, under a month ago, he confessed that he did want to, because I was only making other people happy. But now, when I want to for myself, he didn't anymore.
"Edward." I moaned. "Please? Why not, you were all for it a few weeks ago."
"A deal's a deal, Bella. If I did give in, which I'm not going to, then there won't be a wedding and everyone will be disappointed, not to mention you won't hear the last of it from Alice for the next fifty years."
I felt tears prick my eyes. There wasn't going to be a wedding after all. Edward wiped the tears away with his thumb gently.
"I'm sorry, but we did agree Bella." He said softy.
I could see the conflict and sadness in his eyes. He wanted me to be happy, to give me what I wanted. He wanted it too, but he had priorities and self morals that he could not break. I knew when the time came, he would be able to. He'd prepared himself. But right now was not the best time to spring it upon him.
I looked into his eyes again and saw the pain I was causing. I could not do this to him. Not when we had so little time left together.
Right. My last day with Edward will be the best of my life. I will not cause him pain or stress or cause for concern. I will let him give me what he wants. No complaints.
I smiled and laughed, wiping the remained of the tears away.
"I'm sorry," I chuckled in a thick voice, "everything's just come crashing down at once that's all. I mean the wedding, Jacob, getting turned and leaving my entire life behind and now this!"
I sighed and shook my head.
"But let's forget about all that. Let's make this number one on the best nights of our existences."
Edward frowned.
I shook my head fast. "Not like that. I know you won't budge, so I'm not going to try any more. It's causing use both pain, so just forget about that, ok?"
Me smiled and leant forward.
"That sounds about right." He whispered, before claiming my lips with a passionate edge.
We must have been sat there for hours, I couldn't tell, I had lost track of time. Between kissing, we talked and played on Emmett's video games. I lost all but one, which I'm sure Edward allowed. It wasn't until the chime of a clock informed me that it was 9pm, that I began to wonder where the rest of the Cullen's were.
"Where is everyone?"
"Do you really want to know?"
I nodded. "Why wouldn't I?"
"All right, you asked for it. They've gone to buy decorations, book a caterer, get fitted for suits and dresses, organize a vicar, make the seating plan and tell Charlie you're staying here tonight."
My mouth had dropped open once I got what all of this was for. I close it and opened it again.
"They're doing the wedding? By themselves?"
"Well, I wouldn't say 'they', its more just Alice and Esme. The others are just along to get everything done quicker. And they need outfits."
He grinned at my still shocked face.
"Without my help? I should be helping! I can't make them plan my wedding all by themselves! I must look so…so spoilt! I shouldn't be making them do this!"
I went into stress mode, something I wasn't supposed to do tonight.
Edward took hold of my shoulders.
"Breathe, Bella. They don't mind, really! Alice was all for doing it by herself, but Esme wanted to help too and then Carlisle, Emmett, rose and Jasper want to be involved too. They really don't mind. Actually, I think Alice is happy you're not planning. She wants it to be a surprise when it's your time to walk down the isle."
A question that should have worked its way through my lips long ago bubbled up now.
"Which is going to be where?" I asked, terrified of the length Alice would go to, to make this the 'perfect' wedding.
On the beach, that wouldn't be so bad, but it would end up raining. The baseball field? That would bring back too many bad memories. A hotel perhaps. 5 star, 100 miles away, walking from the entrance in a big white dress. Lots of attention. Or maybe a simple church. Although Alice would vamp it up so much, I would feel so embarrassed, I would have to apologise to the vicar in person.
I cringed as I pictured every one of the ghastly scenes for the wedding to take place.
Edward chuckled and from the expression on my face, I bet he knew exactly what I was thinking.
"Don't worry. It's not that bad. Erm…I told Alice I wanted to choose the place…"
I looked up.
"Where?"
"Well I know you like small and comforting, so I suggested…here."
I went into shock. Compared to all those other places, this seemed like heaven. I couldn't have thought of a better place. Edward wanted us to get married in his home, which would soon be mine too. In this beautiful, familiar place. The shock was still on my face.
Edward must have read it the wrong way because he was quickly trying to provide other options.
"Well if you don't want to, we could have it in a church, or anything you want. The meadow! We could have it in the meadow…"
I put my finger over his lips and shook my head.
"The meadow is our place. No-one else's. And we don't need to go there anyway."
"Why? You seemed queasy when I said here. We could find another somewhere."
"We don't need to find another, anywhere." I looked around the room, then at him, smiling this time. "I love here."
He grinned back and we both leant in until our lips met. We had barely joined for 10 seconds when the door burst open and Emmett came bounding in and stopped a few large strides away from us. We pulled apart, I felt my cheeks heat up as we were caught in the act. Emmett grinned like a mad man. I felt the insults coming.
"Bella, long time no see! You seduced Edward yet? Or is he still all for the morals? I see he forced a car on you, but you forced nothing on him. You mustn't be trying hard enough. Whenever Rose wants to…" Rosalie punched him on the arm.
"Shh. Remember those things called privacy and decency Emmett." Rosalie hinted.
Alice, Jasper and Edward make sarcastic noises. Rosalie turned round to glare at them.
"Oh come on! We're not that bad!"
"Well, compared to that dreadful decade." Edward snickered
"That was like 60 years ago! Let it go!" she screamed and stormed out of the room.
Emmett laughed. "So, Bella…"
I glared at him and got up from the couch. I stormed towards the door.
"I'm going home. Come on Edward!"
I was about to step out the door when an icy hand held me back.
"Oh no you're not. You're staying here tonight, remember? Alice cleared it with Charlie." Edward said, a smile in his voice.
I paused, my back still to him and pushed away the anger. I turned around and smiled at him.
"Right. For the best night ever."
"So far" he whispered in my ear, so quietly, I don't think any of the vampires in the room would have heard it.
Yay! Bella x Edward! There will be more Rosalie x Emmett and Alice x Jasper in future chapters.
But what's going to happen to Bella tomorrow?!
Here's a preview:
I stumbled over the fallen objects in the dark. My heart beating faster than ever. It was like the phoenix all over again. The old building, the silence, the vampire waiting for me…
I spun around, loosing my balance on the bloody mess on the floor. I looked up towards the killer.
My head shook is disbelief.
"You?!"
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